Fall fest fun supports community programs

DALE — Hog wrestling, the Dirty Deeds AC/DC Tribute Band and pronto pups are all coming back to Dale this weekend.

You guessed it — the 51st annual Dale Fall Festival will pop up in Spencer County Thursday through Saturday. The fest includes returning favorites listed above, as well as new displays, including a BMX bike stunt show and wheat threshing demonstrations.

“Just coming to the festival and supporting the Dale Fall Fest is something huge for us because the money that we get from the festival not only goes back into the next year’s festival, but it goes into programs around our community that help so many people,” said Hope Davis, a festival committee member who was also the festival queen in 2015. “This festival is what helps make our community better. Just coming and supporting the local booths is more than we could ask for, and we appreciate (it).”

Admission is free, and money raised at the booths and beer garden goes to things like school organizations, a summer adventure program for children of low income families, the town police department, and more.

Davis said the Wonder Wheels BMX stunt show is a street performance that will feature bikers zipping up ramps during several time slots throughout the festival weekend. Local farmers will head up the wheat threshing demonstrations, which will give attendees a chance to see how the crop is sliced and baled.

Returning after a hiatus is the interactive fire safety smoke house. That activity is held in a trailer and teaches participants — it’s mostly directed to children — how to react in fire situations through a simulated fire.

The festival’s grand raffle is a big deal every year, and this year, Davis said the fest has many more prizes than in the past. Participants in the Saturday morning 5K walk and run are also entered into a raffle drawing of their own.

Live music performances and cornhole and horseshoe tournaments also dot the schedule. Davis said her deep love for the event comes from the fact that it brings people together.

“It’s a community event where everyone has to come together to be able to put this on,” she said. “And I just love seeing that. People coming together despite their differences of political opinions or beliefs. Everyone is just coming together to put this one event on.”